Blog 1: Everything Hockey

Written By Endurance Admin

Part 1: Understanding Hockey – Common Injuries, Weaknesses & Why They Happen

Hockey is fast, physical, and demands agility, strength, and endurance. Whether you’re a junior player chasing higher leagues, a recreational adult hitting the rink on weekends, or a veteran player staying active into your 50s, your body is constantly absorbing hits, quick pivots, and high-speed skating. This combination makes hockey unique — and prone to certain injuries if your movement patterns aren’t optimized.

In this post, we’ll break down the most common hockey injuries, why they happen, and how regular chiropractic care with Dr. Keirstyn can help keep you playing strong at any age.

The Physical Demands of Hockey

Explosive skating: Rapid starts, stops, and changes in direction place high stress on the knees, hips, and lower back.

High-contact collisions: Shoulder, neck, and spinal injuries are common in body checks or falls.

Stick handling & shooting mechanics: Repetitive upper body rotation can lead to shoulder and elbow issues, and even subtle back imbalances.

Goalie-specific stress: Groin, hips, and knee issues are common due to frequent butterfly position and lateral movements.

Most Common Injuries We See

At Endurance Therapeutics in Oakville, hockey players frequently come in with:

Knee injuries:

  • MCL sprains

  • Meniscus irritation

  • Patellar tendinopathy

All from cutting, pivots, and sudden stops.

Hip injuries:

  • Labral tears

  • Hip flexor strains

  • General tightness that limits mobility

Lower back pain:

  • Mechanical low back pain

  • SI joint dysfunction

  • Disc Bulges

Shoulder injuries:

  • AC joint sprains

  • Rotator cuff strains

  • Shoulder instability

Ankle & Foot Issues:

  • Sprains

  • Achilles tendinopathy

  • Plantar fasciitis

From skating and frequent direction changes.

Why These Injuries Happen

  • Biomechanics: Imbalances in strength or mobility create compensations, increasing stress on joints.

  • Training errors: Sudden jumps in skating intensity or insufficient off-ice conditioning.

  • Weakness patterns: Core, glutes, and posterior chain weakness often leads to knee and back issues.

  • Overuse: Repetitive skating, shooting, and pivoting without proper recovery.

Warning Signs to Watch For

  • Persistent soreness that doesn’t improve with rest

  • Stiffness in hips, back, or shoulders before and after skating

  • Pain with cutting, pivoting, or shooting

  • Decreased speed, agility, or range of motion

Catching these early can prevent small issues from becoming season-ending injuries!

How Chiropractic Care with Dr. Keirstyn Helps!

Chiropractic care is more than cracking backs — it’s about enhancing movement efficiency, reducing injury risk, and optimizing performance. Dr. Keirstyn specializes in:

  • Identifying and correcting joint restrictions

  • Addressing any muscle imbalances

  • Improving mobility and stability for faster, safer skating

  • Support recovery from acute injuries or prevent chronic issues

If you’re feeling tight hips, sore knees, or a nagging back ache on the ice, book a session at Endurance Therapeutics today — let’s keep you playing at your best all season! Click here to book today!

Endurance Admin